Wrapping method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A WRAPPING METHOD AND APPARATUS WHEREIN THE WRAPPING MATERIAL UTILIZED TO WRAP THE OBJECTS IS TAKEN FROM A SINGLE ROLL OR SUPPLY OF WRAPPING MATERIAL. THE LOOSE END OF THE WRAPPING MATERIAL IS HELD SO THAT THE MATERIAL EXTENDS IN A VERTICAL PLANE, THE OBJECT TO BE WRAPPED IS THRUST THROUGH THE PLANE OF THE WRAPPING MATERIAL SO THAT THE WRAPPING MATERIAL EXTENDS AROUND THE BOTTOM, LEADING END AND TOP OF THE OBJECT, AND THE TRAILING PORTION OF THE WRAPPING MATERIAL IS PRESSED AND SEALED TOGETHER, AND CUT AWAY FROM THE OBJECT. THE LOOSE WRAPPING MATERIAL AT THE SIDES OF THE OBJECT IS SIMILARLY PRESSED AND SEALED   TOGETHER, SO THAT THE OBJECT IS SUBSTANTIALLY ENCLOSED WITHIN THE WRAPPING MATERIAL. THE PORTION OF THE WRAPPING MATERIAL CUT AWAY FROM THE TRAILING END OF THE OBJECT IS ALSO PRESSED AND SEALED TOGETHER, AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF MATERIAL IS ADVANCED FROM THE ROLL OF MATERIAL TOWARD THE POINT WHERE THE LOOSE END OF THE MATERIAL IS HELD, TO REMOVE THE SEAM FORMED BY THE PREVIOUS WRAPPING FUNCTION FROM THE PATH OF THE NEXT OBJECT TO BE WRAPPED.

Feb. 23, 1971 F. J. FALETTI ETAI- WRAPPING METHOD AND APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 2'7. 1968 Fe. 23, 19711 F. J. FALETTI ETAL WRAPPING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed May 27. 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 23, 1971 F, FALETT! yET AL S@ WRAPPING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Maya?. 1968 4 sheets-sheet a so v K 24 lol/4531K HEM S U M Lm AP MP A m T um ...m AT F m J m F H D.. A R W Feb. 23, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed May 27. 1968 United States Patent O 3,564,810 WRAPPING METHOD AND APPARATUS Fred J. Faletti, 2187 Shasta Way NE., Atlanta, Ga.

30329, and Ollie B. Wilson, Jr., P.0. Box 97, Riverdale, Ga. 30274 Filed May 27, 1968, Ser. No. 732,197 Int. Cl. B65b .Z1/48 U.S. Cl. 53-33 6 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A wrapping method and apparatus wherein the wrapping material utilized to wrap the objects is taken from a single roll or supply of wrapping material. The loose end of the Wrapping material is held so that the material extends in a vertical plane, the object to be wrapped is thrust through the plane of the wrapping material so that the wrapping material extends around the bottom, leading end and top of the object, and the trailing portion of the wrapping material is pressed and sealed together, and cut away from the object. The loose wrapping material at the sides of the object is similarly pressed and sealed together, so that the object is substantially enclosed within the -wrapping material. The portion of the wrapping material cut away from the trailing end of the object is also pressed and sealed together, and a small amount of material is advanced from the roll of material toward the point Where the loose end of the material is held, to remove the seam formed by the previous wrapping function from the path of the next object to be wrapped.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various machines have been developed for wrapping objects on a mass production basis which successfully wrap objects of a standard size at a speed in excess of that normally obtainable by a laborer wrapping the objects by hand. While some of the machines have been successful, most of the high speed wrapping machines are deficient in that they Waste a large amount of wrapping material, they are difficult to operate, it is difficult to place a new supply of wrapping material in the apparatus, and they are not easily adaptable to different sizes of packages. Furthermore, most of the wrapping machinery requires two rolls of Wrapping material to be supplied to the machine for use simultaneously, with one roll of material supplying the material to be Wrapped around the upper portion of the object and the other roll of the material supplying the material to be wrapped around the lower portion of the object.

Recently, the use of polyethylene material in the packaging industry has become popular since the material is transparent and inexpensive; however, the thickness of the polyethylene material normally utilized in the packaging material is such that the material is very thin andilmy, and hard to handle and control. Thus, the machinery utilize to wrap objects with polyethylene material must be constructed especially for use with this material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briey described, the present invention comprises a method and apparatus of wrapping items with a heat shrinkable material, such as polyethylene film. Material from a roll of polyethylene film is extended in a down- 'ice ward direction and held in a vertical plane. An item to be wrapped is thrust into the plane of the material, which pushes the material in front of the item thus covering the bottom, the leading end and top surfaces of the item with the material. The material is then clamped together at the trailing end of the item and heated to fuse the adjacent sheets of material together, and the sheets are cut intermediate their heated areas. The item is then moved to another station ywhere the material is clamped together at the sides of the item and heated so that it fuses and the item is then completely enclosed in the wrapping material. The portions of the material cut away from the trailing end of the item remain connected together Since the material was severed intermediate its fused portion, and the material is advanced from the roll of material to the point where the loose end of the material is held, to move the seam created in the material by the cutting function out of the line of the movement of the next object to be wrapped.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for Wrapping items which utilizes a single supply of heat shrinkable material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for Wrapping items with a heat shrinkable material which wastes only a small amount of the material and forms a neat seam in the material about the object.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sealing and cutting apparatus for use in a wrapping machine for wrapping items with a heat shrinkable material, wherein, two portions of sheet of material can be connected together in a seam, and the seam can be cut along its centerline.

Another object is this invention is to provide apparatus for wrapping items which is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate, and wastes only a small portion of wrapping material.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side schematic view of the wrapping machine.

FIG. '2 is a side elevational View of the draw rolls support.

FIG. 3 is a prospective view of the draw rolls.

FIG. 4 is a prospective View of the conveyor and side sealing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an end cross-sectional view of the conveyor and side sealing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an end cross-sectional view of a sealing and clamping bar in engagement Iwith each other.

FIG. 7 is an end cross-sectional view of the sealing and clamping bars similar to FIG. 6, but showing the material extended between the sealing bar and the clamping bar.

FIG. 8 is an end cross-sectional view of the sealing and clamping bars, similar to FIGS. 6 and 7, but showing the material immediately after it has been sealed and cut.

FIG. 9 is a schematic showing of the conveyor, sealing and clamping bars, draw rollers, and the manner in which the material is extended through the machine.

FIGS. 10, l1, 12, and 13 are schematic views similar 3 to FIG. 9, and show the progression of an item through the wrapping machine.

FIG. 14 is a schematic showing of a manner in which the side sealing and clamping bars seal the wrapping material at the sides of the item.

FIG. 15 is a detailed showing in side elevation of an alternate form of the sealing and cutting mechanism.

FIG. 16 is a detail showing of the sealing and cutting mechanism of FIG. l5, showing the elements in engagement with each other.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are progressive views, similar to FIG. 16, showing the gathering and cutting functions of the sealing and cutting mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawing, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows wrapping machine 20' which comprises a rwrapping material feed apparatus 21, and object feed apparatus 22, and sealing and cutting apparatus 24.

Wrapping material feed apparatus 21 comprises a pair of spaced apart support rolls 25 and 26 for supporting a supply of wrapping material 28. Support roll 25 is driven by electric motor 29. Guide rolls and 31 are positioned in parallel, spaced apart relationship, and dancing roll 32 is positioned intermediate and below guide rolls 30 and 31. A third guide roll 34 is positioned below guide roll 31. Material from the roll of material 28 is passed over guide roll 30` under dancing roll 32, over guide roll 31, and in front of guide roll 34, toward the sealing and cutting apparatus 24. Dancing roll 32 insures that proper tension is exerted on the material reeled out from supply roll 28. The height of dancing roll 32 is indicative of the amount of material which extends from supply roll 28; that is, when dancing roll 32 is elevated to a point closely adjacent guide rolls 30 and 31, a small amount of material extends from supply roll 28, whereas when dancing roll 32 is positioned further away from guide rolls 30 and 31, a larger supply of material extends from supply roll 28. Switch 35 is positioned above dancing roll 32, and feeler arm 36 extends down into the patch of dancing roll 32. When dancing roll 32 is moved toward supply rolls 30 and 31 by the sealing and cutting apparatus 24 using some of the material, dancing roll 32 engages feeler arm 36, to close switch 35. Switch 35 is electrically connected to a source of electricity and to motor 29 and functions to energize motor 29. Motor 29 drives support roll 25, which causes supply roll 28 to reel off a fresh supply of material toward guide rolls 30 and 31. The weight of dancing roll 32 insures that the freshly unreeled portion of the material from supply roll 28 does not adhere to supply roll 28 and wrap itself back/ around supply roll 28. Of course, when a sufficient supply of wrapping material has been taken from supply roll 28, dancing roll 32 will have been moved in a downward direction away from feeler 36, so that switch 35 will open and motor 29 Iwill stop.

Object feed apparatus 22 comprises feed platform 38 which extends in a horizontal plane, and which is adjacent sealing and cutting apparatus 24. Ram 39 is movable through a slot in feed platform 38', toward and away from sealing and cutting apparatus 24. Tension spring is connected to ram 39 and to a portion of feed platform 38 in such a manner that ram 39 is always urged by the tension of spring 40 in a direction away from sealing and cutting apparatus 24. Continuous chain 41 is supported below platform 38 by means of sprockets 42 and 44. Projection 45 is carried `by one link of chain 41 and chain 41 is driven in the direction as indicated by arrow 46. Thus, as projection 45 moves across the upper flight of chain 41, it engages ram 39 and moves ram 39 toward sealing and cutting apparatus 24. As projection 45 travels around sprocket 34, it disengages ram 39, and travels over the lower flight of chain 41 toward sprocket 42. As projection 4 45 travels back toward sprocket 42, ram 39 is moved rapidly from sealing and cutting apparatus 24 under the bias of spring 40.

Sealing and cutting apparatus 24 comprises conveyor 48 which includes a plurality of endless belts 49 which extend over driving sheaves 50 and driven sheaves 51. As is shown in FIG. 4, driven sheaves 51 rotate on axle 52 and move belts 51 in the direction as indicated by arrow 54. Driving sheaves 50 are driven by axle 55. As is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, support plates 56 extend parallel to conveyor belts 49 along the length of the conveyor, and each sheave 50 and 51 is rotatably connected to a support plate 56 by means of a spool 58. Driven axle 52 and driving axle 55 are non-circular, and the apertures in sheaves 51 and 52 and spools 58 are of similar configuration, so that sheaves 50 and 51 and their respective spools 58 can be moved axially along driven axle 52 or driving axle 55, which functions to position conveyor belts 49 closer together or further away from one another. Adjusting rod 59 is oppositely threaded from its center toward its ends, and is threaded through support plates 56. Thus, when adjusting rod 59 is rotated, it will function to move support plates 56 closer together or further away from one another.

As is shown in FIGS; 1, 4 and 5, sealing and cutting apparatus 24 includes sealing and cutting bars 60 and 61 mounted above the conveyor 48, and clamping or pressure bars 62 and 63 mounted beside the conveyor. Sealing and cutting bars 60 and 61 are suspended above and on opposite sides of conveyor 48 by means of racks 65 and 66, respectively, while pressure bars 62 and 63 are supported on opposite sides of conveyor 48 by means of racks 67 and 68, respectively. Pinions 69 and 70 are supported by pinion support plates 71 on each side of conveyor 48, and mesh with racks -65-67 and 66-68, respectively. Rotation of pinions 69 and 70 causes racks 65-68 to reciprocate, and move sealing and cutting bars v60 and 61 and their respective clamping bars 62 and 63 toward each other. Pinions 69 and 70 are rigidly mounted on transverse control axles 72 and rotate in unison. Control rack 74 (FIG. l) extends longitudinally of the sealing and cutting apparatus 24 and engages control pinions (not shown) which are also rigidly connected to transverse control axles 72. Thus, movement of conttrol rack 74 results in equal and uniform rotation of transverse control axles 72 and their respective pinions 69 and 70.

Adjusting rod 59 also extends through sprocket support plates 71 (FIG. 4), so that rotation of adjusting rod 59 causes sprocket support plates 71 and the elements supported thereby to move toward or away from conveyor 48. With this arrangement, sealing and cutting bars 6l) and 61 and their respective pressure bars 62 and 63 are movable toward and away from conveyor 48.

As is shown in FIG. 1, front sealing and cutting bar 75 is positioned aboveconveyor 48 at the inlet end of the conveyor, and front pressure bar 76 is positioned in front of conveyor 48, below front sealing and cutting bar 75. Front sealing and cutting bar 75 is supported by rack 77, while front pressure bar 76 is supported by rack 78. Pinion 79 engages both racks 77 and 78, and transverse control axle 80 causes pinion 79 to rotate. Transverse control axle 80 is connected to control rack 74 by means of another pinion (not shown). Thus, control rack 74 functions to control the movement of front sealing and cutting bar 75, its pressure bar 76, and side sealing and cutting bars 60 and 61 and their respective pressure bars 62 and `63. The movement of these elements is simultaneous and uniform.

As is shown in FIG. l, the wrapping material extending from supply roll 28 and over guide rolls 30-34, extends through draw rolls 81 and 82 in fornt of conveyor 48. Draw roll 81 includes the plurality of elastic washers 84 ('FIG. 3) positioned thereabout at spaced intervals along its length. Each draw roll includes meshing gears 85 and 86 at its ends, so that rotation of one of draw rolls 81 and 82 results in equal and opposite rotation of the other draw roll.

As is shown in FIG. 2, draw rolls 81 and 82 are supported in support brackets 88 at each of their ends, with draw roll 81 including axle 89 extending through slots 90 in support brackets 88, and with draw roll 82 having its axle 91 extending through an aperture (not shown) in each of support brackets 88. One of support brackets 88 includes an advancing mechanism 92 for advancing or rotating draw roll 82. As is shown in FIG. 2, advance mechanism 92 includes rotatable suppor plate 94 which rotates about axle 91 of draw roll 82. Sprocket 95 is rigidly fastened to axle 91 of draw roll 82, and pawl 96 is supported by its support pin 98 from support bracket 88, and is biased into an engagement with sprocket 95 by means of tension spring 99. Thus, draw roll 82 is allowed to rotate only in the direction as indicated by arrow 100, and since the gear 85 and 86 of draw rolls 81 and 82 are normally in engagement with one another, draw roll 81 will rotate in the direction as indicated by arrow 101. Tension springs 104 are connected lto each support bracket 88 and to axle 89 of draw roll 81, to normally bias draw roll 81 into engagement with draw roll 82.

Rotatable support plate 94 of advance mechanism 92 includes pawl 105 pivotally connected thereto by pin 106, and spring 108 to bias pawl 105 into engagement with sprocket 86. Actuating rod 109 is pivotally connected to bracket 94. Actuating rod extends in a down-ward direction from advance mechanism 92 and through aperture 110 of angle iron 111. Flange 112 is positioned about actuating rod 109 below angle iron 111, and tlange 113 is positioned about actuating rod 109 above angle iron 111 and compression spring 114 Surrounds the portion of actuating rod 109 above its flange 112 and the portion of angle iron 111 which defines aperture 110. Thus, actuating rod 109 is normally biased in a downward direction under the influence of spring 114, which normally holds bracket 94 of advance mechanism 92 in the posi- -tion as is shown in FIG. 2.

Support brackets 88 Which support draw rolls 81 and 82 are connected to racks 78 of front pressure bar 76, so that draw rolls 81 and 82 reciprocate with front pressure bar 76. A stationary abutment 115 which is part of the frame of the sealing and cutting apparatus 24 is positioned below actuating rod 109, in a position so that when actuating rod 109 is moved in a downward direction by means of the reciprocation of rack 78, the lower extension of actuating rod 109 `will engage stationary abutment 115, and cause actuating rod 109 to stop its downward movement while the remaining elements connected to rack 78 continue to move in a downward direction a short distance. Thus, actuating rod 109 will move against the bias of its spring 114 to rotate rotatable support plate 94 of advance mechanism 92 about axle 91 of draw roll 82. Thus, pawl 105 will cause rotation of draw roll 82 in the direction as indicated by arrow 100, which causes a corresponding and opposite rotation of draw roll 81, as indicated by its arrow 101.

As is shown in FIG. 1, electric motor 116 is positioned below conveyor 48 and functions to drive conveyor 48 and object feed apparatus 22. Sheave 118 is connected to intermediate sheave 119 by means of V-belt 120, and intermediate sheave 119 is connected to a sheave (not shown) of driving axle I55 of conveyor 48 by means of V-belt 121. Sheave 122 of motor 116 is connected to intermediate sheave 124 by means of V-belt 125, and sheave 126 which is driven by axle 128 of intermediate sheave 124 drives second intermediate sheave 129 by means of V-belt 130. Second intermediate sheave 129 drives the axle of sprocket 44 by means of V-belt 131.

Axle 128 of intermediate sheave 124 has connected thereto cam 132. Cam 132 functions to operate valve 134 as it rotates with sheaves 124 and 126. Valve 134 is connected to a source of air pressure 135 through conduits 136 and 138, and pneumatic drive cylinder 140 at each of its ends to valve 134 through conduits 141 and 142. Exhaust conduits 144 and 145 lead away from valve 134. The arrangement of valve 134 is such that when cam 132engages valve 134, pressure is transmitted from pressure source 135, through conduit 136, valve 134, and conduit 141 to cylinder 140, which causes the piston (not shown) within cylinder 140 to thrust its piston rod 146 out of cylinder 140. Connecting link 148 is connected at one of its ends to control rack 74. Thus, movement of piston rod 146 out of its cylinder 140 causes control rack to move to the left (FIG. l), which causes sealing and cutting bars 60, 61, and to move away from their respective pressure bars 62, 63, and 76. As cam 132 continues in its rotation, valve 134 is deactivated, which allows the pressure transmitted to one end of cylinder to dissipate, and pressure is supplied to the opposite ends of cylinder 140 through conduits 138 and 142, thus urging piston rod 146 back into cylinder 140. Of course this movement causes sealing and cutting bars l60, 61 and 75 to move toward their respectivve clamping bars 62, 63, and 76.

As is shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the sealing and cutting bars and the pressure bars such as front sealing bar 75 and its pressure bar 76 function to seal and cut the wrapping material. Sealing and cutting bar 75 includes a channel shaped housing 150 which is positioned with its opening facing in a downward direction. A pair of heated elements 152 and 153 are positioned in housing 150, and extend substantially the entire length of housing 150. Heated elements 152 and 153 include rounded end portions 155 and 156 which are positioned at the opening of housing 150. Cutting blade 158 is positioned between heated elements 152 and 153, and also extends substantially the full length of housing 150. Cutting blade 158 and heated elements 152 and 153 are connected together by means of connecting screws 159. 'Strips of elastic material 160 and 161 are connected to the exterior face of housing 150, on opposite sides of opening 151.

Pressure bar 76 defines a pair of spaced slots 162 and 163 which extend along the length of bar 76. Slots 162 and 163 form anges 164 and 165 at the edges of pressure bar 176, and center ange 166. Center fiange 166 is foreshortened. Pressure pads of resilient material 168 and 169 are positioned in slots 162 and 163. Pressure pads 168 and 169 are of a size so that they are substantially coextensive with the upper edges of anges 164 and 165 and form a recess 170 above ange 166.

The structure of the sealing and cutting bars and the pressure bars is such that when these bars come together as shown in FIG. 6 the pads 160 and 161 of the sealing and cutting bars engage the edge flanges 164 and 165 of the pressure bars, the rounded portions 155 and 156 of the heated elements 152 and 153 engage the resilient pads 168 and 169, and cutting blade 158 protrudes into the slot 170 formed between pads 168 and 169. As is shown in FIG. 7, the material played out from supply roll 128 is clamped together between the sealing cutting bars and their respective pressure bars. After the lbars have been pressed together and begin to separate, the heat and pressure exerted from heated elements 152 and 153 will fuse the the material at 171 and 172, and cutting blade 158 will cut the material between the seams formed at 171 and 172.

-As is shown in FIGS. 15-18, the sealing cutting bars and pressure bars may vary, so long as they function to Iboth cut the layers of material and connect the ends of the material on both sides of the cut. As is shown in FIG. 15, each sealing and cutting bar includes rack mounted support brackets 181 and a support bar 182 suspended from brackets 181 and urged in a downward direction by springs 184. Asbestos bar 185 is connected to support bar 182 by support plate 186, and a nichrome wire 188 is stretched along the bottom surface of asbestos bar 185. A pair of rollers 189 and 190 are mounted generally above and below the sealing and cutting bar, and a Teon curtain or cover 191 extends about the sealing and cutting bar and is rolled at its ends about rollers 189 and 190.

Pressure bar 192 is positioned below and in parallel alignment with sealing and cutting bar 180, and includes a support bar 194, a strip of resilient material 195 connected to the top surface of support bar 194, and a pair of support plates 196 and 197 connected to opposite sides of support bar 194 and tapered inwardly at their upper edges over support bar 194 into supporting relationship with the strip of resilient material 195. A layer of T ellon material 198 is connected to the top surface of the strip of resilient material.

As is shown in FIG. 16, sealing and cutting bar 180 and pressure bar 192 move toward each other until wire 188 makes an impression in resilient strip 195 and its layer of Teflon material 198, so that Teflon layer 198 engages Telion curtain 191 over and to a considerable distance on each side of `wire 188. When the layers of packaging material 27 extend between sealing and cutting bar 180 and pressure bar 192, as is shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, wire 188 is heated as the bars engage each other, which causes the packaging material directly adjacent wire 188 to melt or disintegrate. The portions of the packaging material extending away from wire 188 will not completely disintegrate, but will fuse with the adjacent edge of material to form seams 171 and 172.

OPERATION When the wrapping apparatus 20 is ready for operation, material 27 from supply roll 28 will be extended about guide rolls 30w34 (FIG. l), and threaded through draw rolls 81 and 82. The operator will place an object 19 on feed platform 38, and ram 39 will move object 19 into the portion of material 27 that extends between guide roll 34 and draw rolls 81 and 82 (FIGS. 9-13). As object 19 moves onto conveyor, 48, material 27 will substantially cover the bottom, leading end and top surfaces of object 19 (FIGS. l0 and 1l). Front sealing and cutting bar 75 will then move in a downward direction ot meet the upwardly moving front pressure bar 76 at a point intermediate the bottom and top surfaces of object 19. Draw rolls 81 and 82 will move with pressure bar 76 (FIG. 12) so that no extra material will be passed between pressure bar 76 and draw rolls 81 and 82. When front sealing and cutting bar 75 meets front pressure bar 76, the wrapping material will be connected together and cut, as indicated in FIG. 8, so that a seam 172 is formed in the wrapping material adjacent object 19, and a seam 171 is formed in the wrapping material which extends between guide roll 34 and draw rolls 81 and 82. Front sealing and cutting bar 75 then withdraws or moves in an upward direction while front pressure bar 76 and draw rolls 81 and 82 withdraw or move in a downward direction. Conveyor 48 functions to move object 19 down the upper ight of the conveyor. As rack 78 which supports front pressure bar 76 moves in a downward direction, it carries draw rolls 81 and 82 to a position where actuating rod 109 (FIG. 2) engages stationary abutment 115, which causes draw rolls 81 and 82 to rotate in the direction as indicated by arrows 101 and 102 (-FIG. 13). The rotation of draw rolls 81 and 82 in this direction causes a small portion of material 27 to be advanced through draw rolls 81 and 82 so that the seam 171 previously created will be moved out of the path of the next object to be wrapped.

As an object 19 moves over conveyor 48, the sealing and cutting apparatus 24 cycles again, which causes another object 19 to be placed on conveyor 48. In the meantime, the first object is moved to a position where it is adjacent side sealing and cutting bars 60 and 61, and their respective pressure bars 62 and 63. The second cycle of the apparatus causes side sealing and cutting bars 60 and 61 and their respective pressure bars 62 and 63 to move together as shown in FIG. 14, to connect together the portions of wrapping material 27 which extends over the sides of object 19. With this function, the object will be completely enclosed and sealed within wrapping material 27.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A method of wrapping an object comprising holding the loose end portion of a sheet of material from a supply of material in an upwardly extending plane, moving an object laterally through the plane so that the material is wrapped about the bottom, front portion and top of the object, connecting the material together at the back portion of the object at a line of connection intermediate the top and bottom of the object, and cutting the material extending from the supply and from the point where the material is held away from the object.

2. The invention of claim 1 and further including the steps of connecting the material together at the sides of the object to substantially enclose the object with the material.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the step of connecting the material together comprises heating the material and pressing the heated portions of the material together.

4. A method of wrapping an object with a heat fusable material comprising extending a sheet of heat fusable material from a generally continuous supply of the material in an upwardly extending plane, holding a portion of the sheet of material in a fixed position, moving an object in a xed attitude in a horizontal path against the sheet of material through the plane between the supply of material and its fixed position and drawing more of the material from the supply of material until the back portion of the object is beyond and adjacent the plane and a length of material is generally wrapped about the bottom, front portion and top of the object, urging the length of material together at the back portion of the object at a level intermediate the top and bottom surfaces of the object, heating the material at the back portion of the object to fuse the ends of the length of material together and to re-establish an unbroken sheet of material from the supply of material beyond said path and to separate the length of material from the sheet of material, and advancing the sheet of material from the supply of material beyond the fixed position of the sheet of material to move the fused portion of the sheet of material away from the path.

5. Apparatus for wrapping objects with heat fusable material comprising means for holding a portion of a sheet of material from a generally continuous source of sheet material in an upwardly extending plane, thrusting means movable in a path over a horizontal surface toward and away from said plane for urging an object in a fixed attitude in a horizontal path from said horizontal surface through said plane against the portion of the sheet material to draw material from the source of material and wrap a length of the material generally .about the bottom, front and top surfaces of the object, heated clamping means movable together between the object and said plane for fusing the ends of the length of material together and for fusing the sheet of material together to reestablish the portion of the sheet of material across said horizontal path behind the object, said heated clamping means comprising a iirst clamping element movable in a downward direction from above said horizontal path and a second clamping element movable in an upward direction from below said horizontal path, said iirst and second clamping elements movable into engagement with each other at a position between the level of the top and bottom limits of said object, and advancing means for means in engagement with the sheet of material to stretch 5 the portion of the sheet of material across said path.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/ 13956 Tigerman et al. 53-182X 3/1965 RUE 53--182X 10 Hanson 53-198X Tobey 53-182 Forman 53--228X Churchill et al 53-182X THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner E. F. DESMOND, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

